CALENDAR OF EVENTS
THIS WEEK'S THEATRE

COURTESY PHOTO Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan

The musical with a great big exclamation mark plays at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre runs through June 9. The Tony nominated Swing! celebrates the music and dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the 30's and 40's. With the resurgence of dance shows, dance has again become one of the fastest growing trends across the country. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $25 to $50. Group discounts are available for parties of 20 or more. For tickets call the box office at 278-4422. Visit www. broadwaypalm.com for information.

Scapino

A comic adaptation from Moliére's classic plays at the Florida Repertory Theatre in downtown Fort Myers runs through June 9. Wily servants outsmart their masters while young lovers are kept apart by their parents. This irreverent adaptation of Moliére's "Les Fourberies de Scapin" is performed by the Florida Rep ensemble. Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.. For tickets, call the box office at 332- 4488 or go to www.floridarep.org.

Swing! at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

A play by Craig Pospisil, winner of the 2005-06 new play contest, runs at Theatre Conspiracy through May 5. A modern day story inspired by Anton Chekov's "The Cherry Orchard." Fading actress and matriarch Laura Robertson must come to terms with reality or risk losing everything. The Foulds Theatre is located inside the Lee County Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. Show times Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.. For tickets call 939- 3239 or go to www.theatreconspiracy.org.

Midlife the Crisis Musical

The Off Broadway Palm Theatre is showing "Midlife the Crisis Musical" through May 19. This amusing musical comedy pokes fun at the curiosities and inevitability of middle age. Shows are Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.. Saturday 1:15 and 8. Sunday 1:15 and 7. For tickets call the box office at 278-4422. Visit www. broadwaypalm.com for information.

Snow White

See Snow White, the Wicked Queen and the seven dwarfs in this delightful adaptation of one of the most beloved fairy tales of time at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. The children's show begins on Friday, May 4 and runs through June 3. Weekday shows are on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (check the schedule at www.broadwaypalm.com/childrensschedule. htm) at 11:30 am. Weekend performances are at 1 p.m.. For tickets call the box office at 278-4422. Visit www. broadwaypalm.com for information.

THIS WEEK'S SYMPHONY

Patriotic Pops

A stirring musical tribute to the United States of America at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 3-5 at 8 p.m.. Bruce Hangen conducts the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in this rousing, patriotic program. Selections include Copland's classic Lincoln Portrait, which combines American folk songs with the words of our 16th president, Morton Gould's American Salute, a jazzy, orchestral showstopper set to a theme of When Johnny Comes Marching Home, the popular Battle Hymn of the Republic, an inspiring Armed Forces Salute recognizing all of the branches of the military, and much more. For tickets call (239) 597-1900 or online at www.thephil. org.

THURSDAY, MAY 3

Dance - A Dance Off Contest at Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda from 7-8:30 p.m. is the finale in a ballroom dancing course that has been underway since March. The winning couple will dance at the Mother's Day (Sunday, May 13) performance of Tony nominated Swing! at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. The show celebrates the music and dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the 30's and 40's. Admission is free.

FRIDAY, MAY 4

Art - May's Bouquets, an exhibit featuring area artists' interpretation of floral art through a variety of media and techniques at the Cape Coral Arts Studio, 4533 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral. The show runs through May 25.

SATURDAY, MAY 5

Dance - Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance performs at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at 2 and 8 p.m.. More than 50 million people worldwide have seen the international Irish dancing phenomenon that has performed sold out shows at theatres, arenas and stadiums in more than 45 countries. Irish Dance lovers and music fans alike will get their chance to experience the engaging, rhythmic adventure that has helped catapult Irish dancing into the global spotlight and created a massive wave of Celtic dance mania. Tickets are available at the Mann box office, by calling (239) 481-4849 or at www.bbmannpah.com.

Music - An enchanted evening under the majestic, moss-covered oak trees is featured at the 17th Annual Concert Under the Stars featuring the Imperial Symphony Orchestra at the Historic Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales. This event is an annual favorite outdoor gathering for Central Floridians and begins at 8 p.m.. Visitors are encouraged to come early to enjoy the beautiful historic landscape gardens and family-friendly activities. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children. Call 863-676-1408 for information.

SUNDAY, MAY 6

Music - Tap your feet to the beat at the Basically Bluegrass Concert & Pick-In, sponsored by the Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida, at 2 p.m. at the Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road in North Ft. Myers. Admission to the monthly concert is $5. Admission is free for members of the Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida and for children under 16. For information call 941- 626-5399.

Theatre - Readers Theatre presents the classic comedy Tartuffe by Moliére in a staged reading at the Sugden Community Theatre in Naples at 7:30 p.m.. The cast reads the rhyming account of Tartuffe, a man of great religious zeal and fervor. In fact, Tartuffe is a scheming hypocrite.

Music - The Naples Jazz Masters celebrate great dixieland jazz from 2-4 p.m. at the Norris Center Theater in Naples.

TUESDAY, MAY 8

Music - Björn Again, the critically acclaimed band that gave birth to the international ABBA revival, will perform at the Philharmonic

Center for the Arts in Naples for one exciting evening of music and glitz on Tuesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. Hot off the Shania Twain tour in Europe, Björn Again is headed back to North America with its fully live concert show complete with costumes, dance moves and Swedish banter that bring to life the greatest hits of ABBA as they were meant to be seen and heard. Rolling Stone called Björn Again "absolutely flawless." TimeOut NY raved "Björn Again may be the world's most entertaining live rock show." For tickets call (239) 597-1900 or online at www.thephil. org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

Music - Multi-Grammy Awardwinning STEELY DAN make their first appearance in Southwest Florida at the

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for an intimate concert performance on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.. The rock band is centered around core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. Steely Dan's popularity peaked in the 1970s, when it released six albums that blended together elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop. Tickets are available at the Mann box office, by calling ( 2 3 9 ) 481-4849 or at www. bbmannpah. com.

ON GOING EVENTS

Art - The Alliance for the Arts annual show for elementary, middle and high school students runs until May 5. More than 1,000 works from area students will be displayed. The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. just south of Colonial Blvd. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 3. Visit www. artinlee.org for more information.

Art - The Friends of the Cape Coral Library have a new exhibit which runs through June 15. The Gallery, located at the Cape Coral Library, 921 SW 39th Terrace, off Mohawk Boulevard, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lois Johnston, Patty Sole and Angela Aradia are the featured artists.

Dance - Cast members from the musical Swing! will offer free swing dance lessons in the lobby of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre immediately after each Friday evening show. The Swing! dance lessons will start at approximately 9:45 p.m. each Friday. Swing! celebrates the music of the swing era of jazz with a mix of dance numbers; some comic, some romantic and some sexy. For show tickets call the box office at 278-4422. Visit www. broadwaypalm.com for information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Car show-Cruise to the River District on Saturday, May 12 for an exciting night filled with show cars, food and entertainment. The Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency and Beasley Broadcast Group will host the Cruise-In and Block Party car show from 5 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to view show cars on First and Hendry streets, enter cash drawings and enjoy a live broadcast by 96.1-WRXK. DJ Tom's Traveling Tunes will also provide entertainment. Proceeds from the drawings will support Relay for Life and other charities supported by Timeless, Traveling Treasures car club. Last year, the club raised $16,000 for local charities. Many businesses in the River District are supporting the event by giving away door prizes and providing live entertainment. Participating businesses include the Cigar Bar, Delicious Things, Enjewel, French Connection, Hideaway Sports Bar, Morgan House and Wiseguys Subs & Stuff. For more information or to register, call Tony Allen at 229-8526 or Rick Vaske at 200- 1081. Registration is free for car owners.

Music - The final Jazz Alliance 2007 concert at the Alliance for the Arts will feature the Ross-Levine Quartet with guest vocalist Wendy Pedersen on Saturday, May 12th. Saxophonist Billy Ross and pianist Mike Levine have been making music together for over 30 years. Both met while attending the University of Miami Music Program in the late 70's. It was there that the two formed a Jazz Fusion Group, which led to a national release album, featuring Pat Metheney. The album "That Summer Something" was on the Jazz on AOR charts for 6 weeks in the top 10.

Since then, the Ross-Levine Band has played a variety of engagements, from opening acts for Gato Barberi, Michael Franks and Dionne Warwick, to performing at Jazz on the Green in Sanibel. For tickets call (239) 939-ARTS or visit www. artinlee.org for more information.

Art - The next exhibit at the Alliance for the Arts showcases a uniquely recognized artist. Pieces by Sherry Rohl have been selected by three different jurors for top honors in the Annual All-Florida Juried 2D-3D exhibition. In May, Rohl's artwork will speak for itself in a solo exhibit, Friday May 11th - May 26th and aptly titled "Sherry Rohl: A Solo Exhibit." The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. just south of Colonial Blvd. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 3. Visit www. artinlee.org for more information.